The House passed a resolution on Tuesday condemning antisemitism, led by Republicans with a vote of 311 to 14. Some Democrats raised concerns about the resolution’s broad language, fearing it could label any criticism of the Israeli government as antisemitism. Ninety-two Democrats voted “present,” while 13 Democrats and one Republican opposed the resolution.
The ongoing aid to Israel in Congress faces obstacles amid partisan disputes, including issues related to the US Southern border. Democratic Representatives Jerry Nadler, Daniel Goldman, and Jamie Raskin suggested a “present” vote, presenting an alternative resolution urging a bipartisan approach to condemn antisemitism. Nadler criticized the GOP resolution, particularly its claim that “anti-Zionism is antisemitism,” calling it intellectually disingenuous and factually incorrect. He highlighted the distinction between Jewish anti-Zionism and antisemitism, acknowledging the antisemitism problem within certain anti-Zionist sentiments but emphasizing that one does not equate to the other.
In November, the GOP-controlled House passed a bill to provide $14.3 billion in aid to Israel. Democrats, however, took issue with the bill over the fact that it would enact funding cuts to the Internal Revenue Service and would not include aid to Ukraine. led by Republicans
Senate Republicans contend that aid for Ukraine and Israel should be linked to changes in border policies, causing a deadlock in the Senate. On a separate note, two House Democrats plan to introduce a resolution condemning Hamas’ use of sexual violence and rape against Israeli women. Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel of Florida is drafting the resolution, emphasizing that combating rape as a weapon of war is a long-standing priority for her, and it’s not a response to comments made by other members. This initiative follows Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s comments on CNN’s “State of the Union,” where she condemned Hamas’ use of rape but also emphasized the need for a balanced perspective, considering the Palestinian casualties in the conflict. Jayapal later clarified her condemnation of Hamas’ actions in a statement.